Maryland State Sen. Ulysses Currie has been cleared of all charges in a federal corruption case that unfolded over the last several weeks in Baltimore.11 News reporter David Collins said Currie was found not guilty of conspiracy and extortion. He said Currie showed no obvious reaction to the verdict, which was announced about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Currie had been accused of taking $245,000 in bribes from Shoppers Food Warehouse. The jury determined that his consulting contract with Shoppers wasn't unlawful and that he didn't use the power of his office to do favors for the chain, Collins reported. "This has been a rough four years, almost four years, for my wife, my family and I, and also my constituents," Currie said outside the courtroom. "This is, by far, the greatest moment of my life."Currie said he was not soured by the indictment or trial and said he would continue to serve his constituents. When asked what he would do differently, he said, "I have no idea." His defense team told him that was enough, and whisked him away, Collins said. The federal government brought nine charges against Currie. If convicted, he faced up to 20 years on an extortion count, five years on a bribery charge and another five years for conspiracy. He was also charged with making false statements to the FBI.The jury of five men and seven women heard six weeks of testimony in the case. Closing arguments by five attorneys took nearly two days last week.After the verdict was read, Currie's wife let out a sigh of relief and hugged one of Currie's co-defendants. Collins said Currie stared straight ahead as the verdict was read.Currie co-defendants William J. White and R. Kevin Small were also found not guilty.U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said: "The jurys verdict settles the question of federal criminal liability. The jurys sole duty is to decide whether the evidence proves a defendant guilty of the charged crime beyond any reasonable doubt, and a substantial proportion of corruption trials result in acquittals. Prosecutors should never complain about the outcome of a fair trial."Collins said that, in order to satisfy its burden of proof, the federal government would have to establish four essential elements of a conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.Those were:1. The jury had to determine whether the consulting agreement between Currie and Shoppers Food Warehouse was unlawful and that two or more people were involved. Jurors had to find that Currie caused money to be paid.
Shoppers paid Currie more than $245,000 over a five-year period. Prosecutors considered that a bribe. Before jury deliberations began, the defense stipulated that Shoppers-Supervalu paid Currie. The jury also had to determine whether Currie used the power of his office to receive something that was not due that office or him.2. The second element of conspiracy concerned whether the defendants -- which included a couple of former Shoppers executives -- knowingly and willfully became members of the conspiracy.3. The jury had to determine at least one member of the conspiracy knowingly committed at least one "overt act." All 12 jury members had to unanimously agree on which overt act or acts were committed, Collins said.The federal government listed 12 overt acts, and that list comes from Currie's "Accomplishments on Behalf of Shoppers" he provided the grocer seeking a raise. | 4. The government had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the overt act was committed to further some objective of the conspiracy. According to the indictment and evidence presented during the trial, Currie indicated in his list of accomplishments that he would "bring many more opportunities" to Shoppers Food Warehouse and represented that he was "in a unique position to assist Shoppers in expanding its mission and increasing its bottom line."The jury had numerous pieces of defense and prosecution exhibits on hand to refresh their memories. They also had a copy of the indictment, which was 40 pages long. In addition to all of that, the jury was also told it could refer to the judge's instructions. The 91-page document was designed to help them reach a verdict.Stay with WBALTV.com and WBAL-TV 11 News for updates.
Previous Stories:
November 7, 2011: Jury Poses Question On Currie Conspiracy Charge
November 4, 2011: Currie Deliberations Continue; 11 News Obtains Jury Questions
November 3, 2011: Currie Trial Heads To Jury Deliberations
November 3, 2011: Prosecutors Make Closing Arguments At Currie Trial
October 31, 2011: Currie Decides Not To Testify; Closing Arguments Set
October 27, 2011: Sen. Currie's Wife: 'I Let Him Down'
October 26, 2011: Former Gov. Ehrlich Takes Stand At Currie Trial

BALTIMORE —

Maryland State Sen. Ulysses Currie has been cleared of all charges in a federal corruption case that unfolded over the last several weeks in Baltimore.

11 News reporter David Collins said Currie was found not guilty of conspiracy and extortion. He said Currie showed no obvious reaction to the verdict, which was announced about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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Currie had been accused of taking $245,000 in bribes from Shoppers Food Warehouse. The jury determined that his consulting contract with Shoppers wasn't unlawful and that he didn't use the power of his office to do favors for the chain, Collins reported.

"This has been a rough four years, almost four years, for my wife, my family and I, and also my constituents," Currie said outside the courtroom. "This is, by far, the greatest moment of my life."

Currie said he was not soured by the indictment or trial and said he would continue to serve his constituents. When asked what he would do differently, he said, "I have no idea." His defense team told him that was enough, and whisked him away, Collins said.

The federal government brought nine charges against Currie. If convicted, he faced up to 20 years on an extortion count, five years on a bribery charge and another five years for conspiracy. He was also charged with making false statements to the FBI.

The jury of five men and seven women heard six weeks of testimony in the case. Closing arguments by five attorneys took nearly two days last week.

After the verdict was read, Currie's wife let out a sigh of relief and hugged one of Currie's co-defendants. Collins said Currie stared straight ahead as the verdict was read.

Currie co-defendants William J. White and R. Kevin Small were also found not guilty.

U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein said: "The jurys verdict settles the question of federal criminal liability. The jurys sole duty is to decide whether the evidence proves a defendant guilty of the charged crime beyond any reasonable doubt, and a substantial proportion of corruption trials result in acquittals. Prosecutors should never complain about the outcome of a fair trial."

Collins said that, in order to satisfy its burden of proof, the federal government would have to establish four essential elements of a conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.

Those were:

1. The jury had to determine whether the consulting agreement between Currie and Shoppers Food Warehouse was unlawful and that two or more people were involved. Jurors had to find that Currie caused money to be paid.

Shoppers paid Currie more than $245,000 over a five-year period. Prosecutors considered that a bribe. Before jury deliberations began, the defense stipulated that Shoppers-Supervalu paid Currie. The jury also had to determine whether Currie used the power of his office to receive something that was not due that office or him.

2. The second element of conspiracy concerned whether the defendants -- which included a couple of former Shoppers executives -- knowingly and willfully became members of the conspiracy.

3. The jury had to determine at least one member of the conspiracy knowingly committed at least one "overt act." All 12 jury members had to unanimously agree on which overt act or acts were committed, Collins said.

The federal government listed 12 overt acts, and that list comes from Currie's "Accomplishments on Behalf of Shoppers" he provided the grocer seeking a raise. |

4. The government had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the overt act was committed to further some objective of the conspiracy. According to the indictment and evidence presented during the trial, Currie indicated in his list of accomplishments that he would "bring many more opportunities" to Shoppers Food Warehouse and represented that he was "in a unique position to assist Shoppers in expanding its mission and increasing its bottom line."

The jury had numerous pieces of defense and prosecution exhibits on hand to refresh their memories. They also had a copy of the indictment, which was 40 pages long. In addition to all of that, the jury was also told it could refer to the judge's instructions. The 91-page document was designed to help them reach a verdict.